# Bladder cancer-induced CVD mortality: Role of CAPG protein

**Authors:** Junwen Shen, Zhucheng Zhao, Zhaojun Li, Rongjiang Wang

PMC · DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0338101 · PLOS One · 2026-02-17

## TL;DR

Bladder cancer increases cardiovascular death risk by elevating CAPG protein levels, which harms heart cells and may be targeted with drugs like SB525334.

## Contribution

Identified CAPG as a key protein linking bladder cancer and heart failure, and proposed SB525334 as a potential therapeutic.

## Key findings

- Bladder cancer patients have an 18% higher risk of CVD death.
- CAPG protein suppresses myocardial cell function and correlates with cancer progression.
- SB525334 inhibits CAPG in bladder cancer cells, potentially improving cisplatin efficacy.

## Abstract

Explore the causes and mechanisms of bladder cancer-induced Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) death.

We acquired bladder cancer patient data from the SEER database to evaluate CVD death risk. Cross-WGCNA was employed to identify comorbidity genes linking bladder cancer and heart failure. Functional phenotypes of bladder cancer cell lines were analyzed using cell culture, transaction, CCK-8, and Transwell assays, while ELISA determined extracellular target protein concentrations. Myocardial cell function was assessed by examining cell proliferation, collagen I levels, and mitochondrial membrane potential.

Our study, analyzing 140,760 bladder cancer patients from the SEER database, revealed that CVD is a major cause of death, increasing risk by 18%. Cross-WGCNA and Lasso regression identified SFRP1 and CAPG as key serum proteins linked to bladder cancer and heart failure. Regulating these proteins’ mRNA levels significantly impacts cancer proliferation, migration, and invasion. CAPG, in particular, suppresses myocardial cell function. We discovered SB525334 as a strong CAPG inhibitor in bladder cancer cells, potentially enhancing cisplatin’s effectiveness by targeting CAPG.

Bladder cancer patients face an elevated CVD death risk due to high CAPG protein expression, which can raise serum CAPG levels and harm cardiomyocytes.

## Linked entities

- **Genes:** SFRP1 (secreted frizzled related protein 1) [NCBI Gene 6422], CAPG (capping actin protein, gelsolin like) [NCBI Gene 822]
- **Proteins:** CAPG (capping actin protein, gelsolin like)
- **Chemicals:** SB525334 (PubChem CID 9967941), cisplatin (PubChem CID 5460033)
- **Diseases:** bladder cancer (MONDO:0004986), heart failure (MONDO:0005252)

## Full-text entities

- **Genes:** Capg (capping actin protein, gelsolin like) [NCBI Gene 297339], TGFB1 (transforming growth factor beta 1) [NCBI Gene 7040] {aka CAEND1, CED, DPD1, IBDIMDE, LAP, TGF-beta1}, IGFBP2 (insulin like growth factor binding protein 2) [NCBI Gene 3485] {aka IBP2, IGF-BP53}, CALD1 (caldesmon 1) [NCBI Gene 800] {aka CDM, H-CAD, HCAD, L-CAD, LCAD, NAG22}, CAPG (capping actin protein, gelsolin like) [NCBI Gene 822] {aka AFCP, HEL-S-66, MCP}, STAT1 (signal transducer and activator of transcription 1) [NCBI Gene 6772] {aka CANDF7, IMD31A, IMD31B, IMD31C, ISGF-3, STAT91}, ACTA2 (actin alpha 2, smooth muscle) [NCBI Gene 59] {aka ACTSA, SMDYS}, SFRP1 (secreted frizzled related protein 1) [NCBI Gene 6422] {aka FRP, FRP-1, FRP1, FrzA, SARP2}, SPARCL1 (SPARC like 1) [NCBI Gene 8404] {aka MAST 9, MAST9, PIG33, SC1}
- **Diseases:** insulin resistance (MESH:D007333), cytotoxicity (MESH:D064420), cerebrovascular diseases (MESH:D002561), CVDs (MESH:D002318), atherosclerosis (MESH:D050197), Death (MESH:D003643), hypertension (MESH:D006973), Bladder cancer (MESH:D001749), heart (MESH:D006331), heart failure (MESH:D006333), type 2 diabetes (MESH:D003924), cancer (MESH:D009369), endothelial dysfunction (MESH:D014652), aortic aneurysm and dissection (MESH:D000784), fibrosis (MESH:D005355), inflammation (MESH:D007249), cardiotoxicity (MESH:D066126), cardiomyopathy (MESH:D009202)
- **Chemicals:** Cisplatin (MESH:D002945), HY-12012 (-), calcium (MESH:D002118), SB525334 (MESH:C521813), BEZ235 (MESH:C531198), SB216763 (MESH:C417521), Tetramethylrhodamine, ethyl ester (MESH:C110932), CCK-8 (MESH:D012844)
- **Species:** Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606]
- **Mutations:** C2001S
- **Cell lines:** 5637 — Homo sapiens (Human), Bladder carcinoma, Cancer cell line (CVCL_0126), H9C2 — Rattus norvegicus (Rat), Spontaneously immortalized cell line (CVCL_0286), CCK-8 — Homo sapiens (Human), Colon adenocarcinoma, Cancer cell line (CVCL_2873)

## Full text

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## Figures

5 figures with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12912693/full.md

## References

25 references — full list in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12912693/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12912693